Wow! I think this is great news! The best work Ashton Kutcher ever did was on TV, so I think it’s awesome he’s returning to the small screen! I have to admit, I’ll definitely tune in!

This just in from The Hollywood Reporter:

Ashton Kutcher appears to have won the Two and a Half Men sweepstakes.

Two sources close to the deal-making tell The Hollywood Reporter that the actor is putting the final touches on a deal to replace Charlie Sheen as the star of TV’s No. 1 comedy. CBS, studio Warner Bros. and Kutcher’s reps at CAA declined to comment on the situation but a deal is said to be all but signed. The exact dollar figure he will be paid is not known but a source says Kutcher is getting a “huge payday” to join the hit sitcom.

The deal came together quickly in the wake of Hugh Grant passing on the opportunity to join the show. Now sources say Men creator Chuck Lorre has crafted a storyline to introduce Kutcher in a way that satisfies the network and studio. “It’s really funny,” says one source. “People are going to love it.”

Broadcasting & Cable reported Thursday that Kutcher’s name was surfacing as a possible Sheen replacement. The actor, who starred in the winter hit No Strings Attached, would be taking first regular series gig since catapulting to stardom on Fox’s That 70’s Show. He also executive produced the hit MTV hidden-camera series Punk’d, among others.

Kutcher brings a youthful fan base to the CBS show, as well as a big online profile with 6.7 Twitter followers, which could help CBS promote the show.

“Chuck’s really happy,” another source says.

For his part, Kutcher is remaining silent except for a cryptic message he wrote on Twitter: “I’m starting to become convinced that people put my name in articles just to improve their SEO or hoping I’ll tweet it.”

Joaquin Phoenix’s last movie was the strange documentary ‘I’m Still Here’, and it’s no wonder he needed to take a break. That was one big hot mess.

Despite being rumored to be in retirement, Phoenix will be acting again soon, in Paul Thomas Anderson’s highly anticipated movie about Scientology!

According to New York magazine, Oscar nominee Jeremy Renner (‘The Hurt Locker’) had originally been slated for a role that, thanks to financing delays, may now end up reviving Phoenix’s career.

In the script, Philip Seymour Hoffman is set to co-star as a charismatic, manipulative leader (fashioned after Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard) who founds a new religious movement in the 1950′s. Now Variety reports that Phoenix may step in to portray an alcoholic drifter who becomes the right-hand man to Hoffman’s character, but develops doubts about his mentor.

After Phoenix’s long, bizarre experiment as a bearded rapper was filmed by ‘I’m Still Here’ director Casey Affleck (and then failed to wow fans and critics), the Oscar nominee, 36, tiptoed back into the public eye in January, as part of an online video in support of suicide prevention.

Photos (Fame): Joaquin steps out for a cigarette in Los Angeles this afternoon.

Kutcher is the latest rumored name to surface as a possible new star of CBS’ Two and a Half Men, says trade publication B&C. CBS and Warner Bros. are hustling to find a suitable big-name comedic star to replace Sheen since the clock is ticking until the network’s upfront presentation to advertisers next week. If Kutcher lands the role, it would mark his return to the sitcom world where he first broke through on That ’70s Show. Hugh Grant was in talks for the role, and he could have been a great choice, but the Brit dropped out. WB, huddled in meetings readying for the upfronts, had no comment.